Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits for introducing a mandatory clinical review for patients who have received five years of continuous oral bisphosphonate therapy for o
Answer
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on bisphosphonates for treating osteoporosis, which is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta464 The guidance notes that there is uncertainty amongst clinical experts about the recommended treatment duration for someone prescribed a bisphosphonate. The guidance does not make any recommendations around how frequently patients prescribed oral bisphosphonate should receive a clinical review. NICE is an independent body and is responsible for making decisions on whether its published guidelines should be updated in light of new evidence or emerging issues not in the scope of the original guideline. NICE maintains surveillance of new evidence that may affect its published guidance, and decisions on whether its guidance should be updated are taken through an established prioritisation process. We continue to work closely with NHS England to improve access to fracture prevention services and to explore the best ways of supporting local systems to deliver high-quality care which meets the needs of their populations.11% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (38/100)
The reply gives specific, accurate information about NICE guidance: TA464 notes uncertainty about how long treatment should last and makes no recommendation on how often it should be reviewed. It also explains how NICE decides whether to update its guidance. However, it does not say what the Department itself thinks about introducing a mandatory clinical review at five years, so the central question is only partly answered. The person who asked would likely need to ask again for the Department's own position.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the Department's assessment or view of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory clinical review for patients who have received five years of continuous oral bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis? | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply gives concrete facts about NICE guidance (TA464 notes uncertainty on treatment duration and makes no recommendation on review frequency) and explains NICE's independent process for deciding whether to update guidance. However, it never states the Department's own assessment or view on the merits of a mandatory clinical review at five years, substituting NICE's position and process for the Department's view. |